In this article
The start of the footballing weekend sees relegation-threatened Rotherham United host promotion-chasing Ipswich Town in the Championship.
Matt Taylor and Rotherham have endured a sticky start to the campaign, picking up just one league victory and three draws from their opening 11 games, leaving them second bottom of the league table and winless in six.
Kieran McKenna’s Ipswich Town are the polar opposite, playing a highly exciting brand of football that has them in second, eight points clear of third-placed Preston North End. Only Leeds United, in a bonkers 4-3 clash, and Huddersfield Town, a 1-1 draw, have stopped the Tractor Boys from claiming a victory so far this season. Ipswich will want to make the most of the schedule to lead the table ahead of the rest of the fixture list, while Rotherham, who held Southampton to a draw last time out, will be desperate for a shock result as they bid to kickstart their campaign. This game should provide plenty of value for an early weekend bet and we have all the stats you need to build a winning Rotherham vs Ipswich bet builder.
Considering a Rotherham vs Ipswich bet builder? Take on £40 in free football bet builders via this Betfair signup offer:
ROTHERHAM VS IPSWICH PREDICTED LINEUPS
More defensive issues for Rotherham
Matt Taylor can’t catch a break when it comes to central defenders. Tyler Blackett and Cameron Humphreys are injured. At least the rest of the team speaks for itself – the midfield three have played consistently while ex-Norwich City striker Jordan Hugill will lead the line.
A chance for Jackson to step up
McKenna will be forced into one key change ahead of this one thanks to Wes Burns’ injury on international duty last week. It presents an opportunity for Kayden Jackson, who has become comfortable in the right wing / right wing back role. Sam Morsy and Massimo Luongo have been solid together in midfield and Brandon Williams has made the right back spot his own.
ROTHERHAM VS IPSWICH TEAM STATS
Millers pathetic going forward
In 11 matches, Rotherham United have created a measly 6.3 xG. They have created more than 1 xG in a game just once and have not had more than ten shots in a single league game all season. They aren’t particularly good defensively either, conceding a higher xG than any other side in the league, conceding 1.5 xG on seven occasions, two or more goals on nine occasions and five or more shots on target on ten occasions. They are even conceding a lot of corners, conceding five or more in ten of 11 matches and five or more in eight.
Ipswich games seeing plenty of cards
In order to compete at this level, Ipswich have found that scrapping for points is just as important as playing excellent football. It’s why they have collected two or more yellow cards in eight of their 11 league outings while drawing two or more in nine. Elsewhere, they have managed six or more shots on target in nine of their last ten matches, something they will expect to do again against lowly opposition. They have taken a high number of corners over the course of the season but managed five or more just once in five away matches.
ROTHERHAM VS IPSWICH SHOTS AND SHOTS ON TARGET stats
Heavy reliance upon Hugill
Rotherham aren’t packing much of a punch. Jordan Hugill is therefore the man with a heavy load on his shoulders. He has managed at least one shot in nine of his 11 appearances but no more than two in a single game. He has had a shot on target in five of 11 games. The closest support he has is Fred Onyedinma, the winger managed a shot in the last eight games in which he has played 45 minutes or more, managing two or more in five of those.
Chaplin always digs out a shot
Conor Chaplin certainly isn’t shot-shy. The Ipswich top scorer has had three or more shots in each of his last ten starts, managing a shot on target in all ten of those too. He isn’t short of support in the final third. Nathan Broadhead has managed a shot on target in seven of his last eight starts while Hirst has had two or more shots and a shot on target in seven of his nine.
ROTHERHAM VS IPSWICH GOALS AND ASSISTS stats
Hugill the main man
Again, Rotherham are short on goals. They have scored just ten all campaign and 30% of those have been scored by Jordan Hugill, who was rightly lauded for a wonderful finish against Southampton before the international break. The only man matching his three-goal contributions is, again, Fred Onyedinma, whose two goals means the pair have scored half of Rotherham’s league goals.
Ruthless Ipswich hurting teams from all areas
It’s much harder to stop a team when the goals and assists are coming from so many areas of the pitch. Conor Chaplin has been the standout with five goals and two assists while Nathan Broadhead matches his goal tally. The pair are available at 2.20 and 2.75 to score anytime respectively. Another player with a five next to his name is Leif Davis, the flying left back who has assisted five goals.
ROTHERHAM CARDS AND FOULS stats
Midfield terriers getting stuck in for Millers
With defensive injuries causing major issues, Matt Taylor will need his midfield to support those available and they certainly aren’t afraid to get stuck in. Ollie Rathbone has committed a foul in nine of his 11 starts and two or more in seven while partner Christ Tiehi must have his manager shouting his first name with some of his tackles, fouling in seven of eight appearances and twice or more in five. Striker Jordan Hugill carries a heavy toll too, fouling in nine of ten starts and twice or more in six of his last seven.
Ipswich to cause all sorts of issues
The midfield will have their hands full with Ipswich’s talented and technical midfield. Chaplin has stepped up since a difficult opening day and his threat to the opposition has seen him fouled in his last ten while Egypt international Morsy has been fouled in nine of his last ten. As noted above, Davis is a real threat and has been fouled in eight of his league starts.
IPSWICH CARDS AND FOULS stats
Ipswich as gritty as they are fun
Sam Morsy and Massimo Luongo are tenacious midfielders and they are showing that on a weekly basis with their foul count. Morsy has committed a foul in eight of his last ten and two or more in five of those. Their attacking approach has also seen their full backs targeted with width seemingly the only way of getting at Ipswich – Davis has committed a foul in eight of his ten league matches and Williams has committed two or more in all three of his league starts.
ominous Onyedinma one to look out for
Davis will have his hands full against Onyedinma if the winger, who was withdrawn half an hour into their last outing due to poor performance, is up for it – he has been fouled in seven of the nine games he has played at least 45 minutes in. Jordan Hugill again needs mentioning – he has been fouled in eight of his 11 appearances and will be a challenge that Ipswich defenders haven’t faced too much this term.
Rotherham vs Ipswich Bet Builder tips and Picks of the pack
Ipswich are very much the bookies’ pick coming into this one, however, we think we have found some value in this fixture in our four-fold Rotherham vs Ipswich bet builder below, feel free to swap out any of the selections with your own to create your perfect bet builder.
Check out our free bets page to find the best offers from the bookies to start you off for this weekend’s action.
Rotherham vs Ipswich
20th October
kick off 20:00 1+ First Half Goals
Rotherham have conceded nine first half goals in the Championship.
Ipswich have scored 14 first half goals and can break the deadlock early in Yorkshire.
Over 2.5 goalsIpswich are the top goalscorers in the league with 25 goals in 11 matches.
Ipswich have scored two or more goals in seven of 11 league matches
Rotherham have conceded two or more goals in eight of 11 league matches.
George Hirst 1+ shots on targetHirst has had a shot on target in seven of his last nine starts
Rotherham have conceded five or more shots on target in ten of 11 matches.
Leif Davis 1+ foulsDavis has committed a foul in eight of his ten appearances this season.
Onyedinma, his direct opponent, has been fouled in seven of the nine games he has played at least 45 minutes in.
Load our bet builder 
